"[O]ne of the two greatest revelations of [our] lifetime was Apollo 8's emergence from the dark side of the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 to see the Earth climb over the moon's surface. For the first time in history, human beings saw an earthrise — and were made to understand that they share a living world.

People will be talking about that image for 2,000 years," Davis says. "We saw the Earth as it really is — a solitary blue planet floating in the velvet void of space."

One Big MonkeyMember

Posts: 60From: West Yorkshire, UKRegistered: Jul 2012

posted 10-11-2014 01:19 AM
That image is quite often claimed to have kick-started the conservation movement in the public consciousness, although the need for environmental awareness and care was already being discussed in academic and other circles.

So much so that a magazine called 'Whole Earth Catalog', a directory of companies and individuals selling a combination of green and 'survivalist' products aimed at sustainable and independent lifestyles, regularly featured Apollo images on the cover.

The eventual founder of the magazine even produced a badge saying "Why haven't we seen a picture of the whole Earth yet?", specifically aimed at NASA with the idea of encouraging the growth of environmentalism by taking images of our planet.

One Big MonkeyMember

Posts: 60From: West Yorkshire, UKRegistered: Jul 2012

posted 10-11-2014 01:24 AM
...and as another aside, one of the interesting things that comes across from all of the Apollo astronauts I have heard speak is that the best thing about the trip to the moon was the view of home, and the thoughts of what that little blue ball meant to them.

Space Cadet CarlMember

Posts: 85From: Lake Orion, MichiganRegistered: Feb 2006

posted 10-11-2014 06:40 AM
Yes, the astronauts comments seem to hint at the Moon being a gigantic, static rock... as opposed to the Earth being a moving, dynamic object. Was it Lovell or Borman that described the Moon as "a not very friendly looking place"?

TykeanautMember

Posts: 1890From: Worcestershire, England, UK.Registered: Apr 2008

posted 10-11-2014 09:56 AM
I remember someone made the comment that we went to the moon and found the earth.

BlackarrowMember

Posts: 2263From: Belfast, United KingdomRegistered: Feb 2002

posted 10-11-2014 10:21 AM

quote:Originally posted by Space Cadet Carl: Was it Lovell or Borman that described the Moon as "a not very friendly looking place"?

Many images taken on the surface of the Moon make it look very inviting. Jim Irwin was reminded of Sun Valley ski-resort as he looked around the bright mountain slopes.

Anyway, there are many views on Earth which look positively hideous... for instance, most seaside resorts on a wet winter weekend.

Joel KatzowitzMember

Posts: 445From: Marietta GA USARegistered: Dec 1999

posted 10-11-2014 10:23 AM
I read the emotional impact of seeing earth stunned everyone. Almost nobody anticipated the power of the images.

schnappsicleMember

Posts: 211From: Houston, TX, USARegistered: Jan 2012

posted 10-13-2014 07:16 AM
While the Apollo 8 photo was awesome, I can't wait for a manned flight to land near the eastern or western limb of the moon. How great would it be to see the "earthrise" from the surface of the moon.

Imagine the shot Dave Scott took of Jim Irwin standing next to the flag during Apollo 15. Now imagine it with the earth on the horizon.

Space Cadet CarlMember

Posts: 85From: Lake Orion, MichiganRegistered: Feb 2006

posted 10-13-2014 10:28 AM
Yes, I recall complementary descriptions of the Moon also. I believe "foreboding" was the expression used on Apollo 8. That comment on 8 made the Moon sound more ominous.